Oklahoma City University has announced this year’s recipients of the American Indian and Clara Luper scholarships. The scholarships will apply to the 2009-10 academic year.
Clint Normore, OCU’s director of Multicultural Student Affairs, said the two scholarship programs represent the university’s ongoing mission to reflect the Oklahoma City community and provide opportunity for a quality education.
“This year’s class of American Indian and Clara Luper scholarship recipients were selected from a process that started with approximately 300 applications and had approximately 90 prospective student interviews,” Normore said. “The application and interview pools were extremely competitive. This cohort has the strongest ACT and grade point average that we have seen.
“Our students’ success has been their academic achievement and their engagement in campus life. I look forward to the contributions our newest class of scholars will bring.”
The annual retention rate for the scholars is more than 90 percent. These students provide thousands of community service hours annually throughout the city and state.
The American Indian Scholarship Program at OCU is entering its fifth year. Students are eligible for up to eight consecutive semesters provided they maintain a level of good standing with the university and complete specified program requirements each semester.
Selected students participate in scholarship program activities that serve their personal development, promote the culture and heritage of American Indians, and forward OCU’s mission to provide effective servant leaders.
Applicants must:
• Enter OCU as first-time freshmen during the fall semester immediately following high school graduation
• Meet the university’s regular admission standards – 22 ACT, 1020 SAT, or 3.0 grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) and ranking in the top half of their high school graduating class.
• Provide proof of membership in a federally recognized tribe.
The scholarships are sponsored by the Chickasaw Nation and the Wesley United Methodist Church.
The Clara Luper Scholarship promotes the United Methodist tradition of education. The targeted approach provides OCU with 30 students each year, five of whom are selected as Devon scholars.
After all available state and federal aid or other scholarships have been applied, the Clara Luper Scholarship pays the remaining balance for tuition, fees, room, and board; provides a $200 per semester book allowance from the Clara Luper Book Library and provides support services dedicated to the growth, welfare and success of each student.
Students are eligible for up to eight consecutive semesters of the scholarship provided they maintain a level of good standing with the university and complete program requirements each semester.
The winners of the American Indian Scholarship and their graduating high schools are:
Corey Belvin, Sante Fe South, Edmond
Stephanie Black, Mustang
Patricia Cornish, Latta, Ada
Jonathan Daugherty, Mannford
Tayler Galey, Norman North, Norman
Casey Hawkins, Mount St. Mary, OKC
Holly Paden, Apache
Meredith Glover, Mustang
James Biscone, Mount St. Mary, OKC
Taylor Howard, Ada
Jacob Tsotigh III, Norman
Victoria Korrect, Putnam City West, OKC
Jennifer Lawson, Deer Creek, Edmond
Keisha Worley, Stillwell
Thomas Greenlee, Norman
The winners of the Clara Luper Scholarship are:
Isaiah Calhoun, Del City
Ismail Calhoun, Del City
James Campbell, Del City
Jessica Turner, Del City
Anabel Munoz, Harding Charter Preparatory, OKC
Tiffany Johnson, Harding Charter Preparatory, OKC
Kimberly Douglas, home school, OKC
Harmonniey Cheadle, Midwest City
Aazeen Imran, Midwest City
Anakaren Aguilar, Mount St. Mary, OKC
Vanessa Richartz, Norman
Kathryn Alsup, Northeast Academy, OKC
German Martinez, Pathways Middle College HS, OKC
Anita Nguyen, Putnam City North, OKC
Kristen Clark, Putnam City North, OKC
Luisa Medina, Southeast, OKC
Elena Ojeda, Southeast, OKC
Danny Phan, U.S. Grant, OKC
Alisha Jenkins, Western Heights, OKC
April Zamora, Western Heights, OKC
Heather Habekott, Woodward
Nhu Tran, Sante Fe South, OKC
Joshua Stewart, Midwest City
Kameron Uzoma, Northeast Academy, OKC
Monica Carranza, Sante Fe South, OKC
Lena Khader, U.S. Grant, OKC
Raul Jaimes, Westmoore, OKC
Alejandra Campos, Northwest Classen, OKC
Emma Velez, Little Axe, Norman
Danielle Derr, Mount St. Mary, OKC